Campeche, Mexico Meeting Planning Overview

One of three states that make up Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Campeche is blessed with the warm waters and sandy beaches of Mexico's southern Gulf Coast. Two cities, Ciudad del Carmen and San Francisco de Campeche (the state's capital), comprise the majority of Campeche meeting venues. Campeche, however, remains a bit of a hidden gem; less well-known than the Yucatecan touristic areas of Merida, Cancun and Playa del Carmen but still perfect for events of up to 1,000 guests, with historical and archeological sites, spectacular coastal fishing rivers, lush jungles, and miles of beaches.

Meetings tourism represents an important business segment for the state. The city of San Francisco de Campeche, generally referred to as Campeche, has 9 hotels with 1,920 rooms (890 of which are 4 Stars or better) and one major convention center, Campeche XXI Convention Center can host up to 6,000 people.

Campeche is a beautiful destination for conventions, weddings, eco-adventures and incentive trips. Fortifications dating from the 17th century, which protected early inhabitants from pirate attacks, still stand as testimony to the city's cultural heritage. The city's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has 600-plus recently renovated buildings, which includes a number of museums, cathedrals and architectural gems. These same structures offer unique settings for events: imagine a gala inside the city's bulwarks or at a 300-year-old convent, or on the grounds of one of the lavish plantation "haciendas" (estates) that are scattered about the state.

Convention goers and their companions will discover a wide array of exciting activities for their pre- or post-event activities: museums, dance troupes, delicious seafood, sport fishing and hunting, Mayan and Olmec archeological sites, sandy beaches, river rafting, bird watching and many other eco-tourism options. The state preserves 17 archeological sites, including the world's largest ancient archaeological site in terms of surface area, Calakmul.

The easiest way to access Campeche from abroad is via direct flights from 11 major U.S. & Canadian destinations or from 21 Mexican cities to Campeche's International Airport Ingeniero Alberto Acuna Ongay. Campeche is also accessible by bus through the lines ADO, ATS and Autotur

About Campeche, Mexico / Additional Info

For more than 2,000 years, until the Spanish Conquest, Mayans occupied the Campeche area, building sophisticated cities. As the Mayan civilization grew, so did the size of their cities, their knowledge of science and astronomy, their abilities as architects and urban planners. What remains of these cities and religious centers can be visited today. Calakmul, the largest Mayan city ever uncovered lies southeast of the state of Campeche, 180 miles from Campeche City and covers an area of 27 square miles. Another stunning site, located only a 45-minute drive from Campeche City is Edzna, an ancient Mayan regional capital.

It was the Spanish Conquistador Francisco de Montejo who founded Campeche in 1540, on the spot that was previously a Mayan port called Ah Kin Pech. The historical center of Campeche is undoubtedly one of the best preserved examples of Colonial and Viceregal architecture in the New World. Each of the approximately 600 historical buildings has been restored and given a fresh coat of paint. The Campechanos, as the people are called, are proud that their historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city's fortifications, built at the turn of the 19th century, are comprised of a series of bulwarks connected to each other by fortified walls. These fortifications served to ward off pirate attacks, and a total of five gates were built as passageways into the city. Though sections of the wall have been damaged, these fortifications still mark the boundaries of the city's historical center, and visitors can visit the eight different bulwarks, some of which contain historical artifacts. Additionally, two forts were built to enhance the city's fortifications, Fort San Miguel and Fort San Jose. In the former one will find original artillery pieces, coats of arms and model ships, and in the latter one will encounter the Mayan Art Museum as well as stunning views of the city and bay.

Campeche, rich in natural resources, specialized in the production of chicle, corn, sugar cane, rice, salt and lumber in the 19th century. Cattle farming also became lucrative and wealthy landowners built country mansions, called haciendas. These vast ranches also produced to henequen, a plant used to make rope and twine. Many of these ranches, such as the Hacienda Uayamon y Blanca, were abandoned after the Mexican revolution, in the age of agricultural reforms. Over the last 20 years or so, they have been restored to their original splendor and turned into exquisite boutique hotels.

At the hacienda restaurantes, groupsl have the opportunity to try local dishes which includes a lot of fish and seafood. There might be the chance to try local game, including venison and even armadillo. The shrimp in Campeche are considered to be some of the best in Mexico.

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Cities Near Campeche, Mexico

Distance

Estimated Driving Time

Estimated Min. Flying Time

Estimated Flight Cost

Merida, MX

173 km

2 hr 21 min

4 hr 57 min

MXN 6,639+

Ciudad Del Carmen, MX

312 km

4 hr 28 min

5 hr 22 min

MXN 9,371+

Villahermosa, MX

452 km

5+ hrs

4 hr 47 min

MXN 7,083+

Cancun, MX

475 km

5+ hrs

5+ hrs

MXN 5,254+

Campeche, Mexico Climate Information

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Avg. High (°C)

25

27

28

29

30

30

30

30

29

28

26

25

Avg. Low (°C)

20

20

23

23

26

24

23

24

24

23

21

18

Rec. High (°C)

32

33

35

37

36

35

34

32

32

32

32

31

Rec. Low (°C)

12

12

13

16

16

19

21

21

20

17

15

15

Rainfall (cm)

2.0

-

2.0

-

8.0

18.0

16.0

12.0

13.0

7.0

3.0

3.0

The climate in Campeche is generally warm and humid, due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. Average temperatures are generally between 76°F and 82°F. The rainiest months are August and September and the average annual rainfall is 38 inches.

Campeche, Mexico Airport Information

Campeche International Airport Ingeniero Alberto Acuna Ongay (CPE)

Approximate taxi fare: 2849 MXN

The airport is located 5.6 miles from the city center. It offers flights to and from 21 national destinations within Mexico and 19 destinations internationally, 11 of which are located in the U.S. and Canada, including Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Montreal, New Orleans, New York City, Orlando and Vancouver, as well as Madrid, Milan and London. The Campeche airport has parking for up to 140 vehicles, and offers ground transportation options as well as car rental companies.

Airline carriers serving Campeche International Airport

Aeromexico

Aerocaribe

Aerolitoral

Aeromar

Campeche, Mexico Public Transportation

Bus

Local buses come and go from the main market. Their destinations are generally posted on the front windshield. Local buses originate at the market or across the Avenida Circuito Baluartes and go at least partway around the circuito before heading to their final destinations. The fare is $4.50 MX (USD$0.40).

Taxis

The starting rate for taxis is roughly $20 MX (USD$1.80) and $30 MX (USD$2.70 after dark) for rides within the city. Hourly rates run about $8.50 MX, and tickets for authorized taxis leaving from the airport and going downtown are available for purchase at a booth in the terminal (roughly $70 MX (USD$6.00).